Minotaur (redirected from Minotaurus)

Minotaur: see Minos.

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Minotaur

In Greek mythology, a monster of Crete with the body of a man and the head of a bull. It was the offspring of Pasiphaë, wife of King Minos, and a snow-white bull sent by Poseidon and intended for sacrifice. When Minos kept it instead, the god punished him by making his wife fall in love with the bull. The Minotaur (whose name means “Minos bull”) was imprisoned in the Labyrinth built by Daedalus. After defeating Athens in a war, Minos forced the Athenians to send human tribute to be devoured by the Minotaur. The third year the tribute was sent, Theseus volunteered to go, and with the help of Ariadne he killed the monster.

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Minotaur

Greek myth a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. It was kept in the Labyrinth in Crete, feeding on human flesh, until destroyed by Theseus

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Minotaur

fabulous monster of Crete, half-bull, half-man. [Gk. Myth.: EB, VI: 922]

See : Bull

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Minotaur

beast with bull’s head and man’s body. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 714]

See : Monsters

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Minotaur

in ancient Greek mythology, a monster that was half-bull and half-man, the offspring of Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete, and the sacred bull of the god Poseidon. According to the myth, Minos confined the Minotaur in a labyrinth and forced Athens, which was then subject to him, to send as an annual offering seven youths and seven maidens to the monster. The Athenian hero Theseus entered the labyrinth and killed the Minotaur.